Apparatus for processing cordage



Aug. 25, 1953 J. H. PENN ET AL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CORDAGE 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1949 lNETO/PS J H. PENN P R POWELL BY myATITORNEV Aug. 25, 1953 Y J. H. PENN ET AL 2,649,322

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CORDAGE Filed Feb. 21, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2lNl/EN 70/95 J H PENN PR POWELL F/G. 2 er 5/.

A TTO/Q/VEY Aug. 25, 1953 .J. H. PENN ET AL 2,649,822

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CORDAGE Filed Feb. 21, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 3lNVENTORS F /G. 3 J H PENN PR POWELL ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1953 J. H. PENNET AL ,6

' APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CORDAGE Filed Feb 21, 1949 e Sheets-Sheet 4IN [/5 N TOPS 4 H PENN PR POWELL Aug. 25, 1953 J. H. PENN ET AL2,649,822

I APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CORDAGE Filed Feb. 21, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 5INI/ENTORS .1 H PENN RR. POWELL A T TORNE V v Aug. 25, 1953 J. H. PENNET AL 2,649,822

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CORDAGE Filed Feb. 21, 1949 e Sheets-Shet elNl/ENTORS W J H PENN 1-? R POWELL A T TORNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1953APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CORDAGE Julius H. Penn, Dunmore, Pa., and PaulR. Powell, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Western Electric Company,Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationFebruary 21, 1949, Serial No. 77,546

16 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for processing cordage, and moreparticularly to apparatus for continuously ring cutting, slitting andstripping portions of coverings of cordage.

In the manufacture of tipped, jacketed cords, the. cords are usuallyformed by cutting long lengths of jacketed cordage into cord length andremoving end portions of the jacket from the cordage generally bymanually ring-cutting, slitting and stripping the jacket. Such manualoperations are time-consuming and expensive. In the past, there has beenknown no satisfactory apparatus capable of automatically removing endportions of a jacket from cordage.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus forprocessing cordage.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus forcontinuously ring-cutting, slitting and stripping portions of cordage.

An apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may includemeans for advancing cordage having a covering along a predeterminedpath, means for ring-cutting the covering at spaced points thereon,means for slitting the covering between two of said points, and meansfor removing the slit portion of the covering from the cordage.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from thefollowing detailed description of an apparatus forming a specificembodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings,in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of an apparatus forming one embodimentof the invention with portions thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, horizontal section taken along line 2--2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical section taken along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 4 is an enlarged, vertical section taken 'along line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, horizontal section taken along line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view taken along line 6-43 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevation of the apparatustaken along line 7-1 of Fig. 3 with elements in different positions, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, vertical view taken along line 88 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, cordage It (Figs. 1 and 2)including a jacket 12 and individually insulated conductors l4--l4 isadvanced continuously at a constant rate of speed by a capstan [5 from asupply reel it, over a guide pulley l8 to individually rotatable groovedsheaves 2B and 2| mounted rotatably on a fixed plate 22 and forming aportion of a walking beam storage device 23. The cordage extends in onecomplete loop around the sheaves and 2!, a sheave 24 mounted rotatablyon a lever 26 pivoted at the midpoint thereof on a pin 28 fixed to theplate 22, and travels through a ring-cutter 30 mounted on the plate toone of individually rotatable, grooved sheaves 32 or 33 mountedrotatably on the plate. The cordage extends in one complete loop aroundthe sheave 32, a grooved sheave 34 carried by the lever 26 and thesheave 33, and goes from the sheave 33 to and through a slitter 3B andbetween stripping discs 38 and 40 to the capstan [5 from which it istaken up by a separately driven takeup reel 42.

An electric motor 44 drives a sprocket 46 and the stripping disc 40through a gear box 48 and a chain 50, and the disc 38 is driven by thedisc 40 through gears 52 and 54 at the same rate of speed as, but in adirection opposite to that in which the disc 40 is rotated. The discsare provided with peripheral grooves 56 and 58, and engage the cordageI0 therebetween. The discs are driven at the same peripheral rate ofspeed as the linear rate of speed at which the cordage is advanced bythe capstan [5, which is driven positively through the drive of the disc43.

One end of an actuating lever 60 mounted pivotally on a pin 62projecting from the plate 22 is connected by a link 64 to the lever 23,and the other end thereof carries a cam follower 66 which is biasedagainst a cam 68 carried with the disc 38. As the cam is turned to theposition thereof shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, the cam follower ismoved from the dotted-line position thereof to the broken-line positionthereof and engages a dwell portion 10 of the cam. As the cam followeris so moved, the lever 56 moves the lever 26 and the sheaves 24 and 34from their full-line positions to their broken-line positions. Duringsuch movement, the sheave 24 is moved farther from the sheaves 20 and 2|thereby lengthening the cordage looped around these sheaves, andsimultaneously the sheave 34 is moved the same distance toward thesheaves 32 and 33 thereby shortening the cordage looped around thesesheaves the same length that the cordage on the sheaves 24, 20 and 2! islengthened.

Since the sheaves 32, 33 and 34 give up cordage stored thereby at thesame rate that the sheaves 20, 2| and 24 take up cordage for storage,the rate of speed at which the cordage is advanced from the supply reelIE to the sheave 23 and from the sheave 32 to the capstan I5 is notaffected by such movement of the sheaves 24 and 34. However, thesemovements of the sheaves and 34 are at such a rate that the sheaves 20,2S and 24 take up additional cordage and the sheaves 32, 33 and 34 giveup cordage at the same rate of speed as that at which the capstan I5advances the cordage so that the portion of the cordage between thesheave 2I and the sheave 32 is stationary during such movements of thesheaves 24 and 34.

Shortly after the portion of the cordage I8 between the sheaves 2I and32 becomes stationary, a lobe I8 of a cam 83 (Figs. 2 and l), which isdriven by the sprocket 46, of the ring cutter 3&3, is moved out ofengagement with a cam follower 82 supporting a yoke 34 mounted pivotallyen a pin 83, and a dwell portion 88 of the cam 83 is moved opposite tothe follower 82. This permits the yoke to pivot by gravity in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, and pairs of groovedbacking rollers sit-9 carried by arms 92-92 (Fig. 6) clamped to the yokeengage spaced portions of the cordage and press these portions of thecordage against rapidly rotating cutting discs 3494 (Figs, 1 and 4)driven by an electric motor 95. The cutting discs cut into the jacket I2of the cordage to a predetermined depth permitted by adjustment screws36% and a stop bar 98, which depth is almost as great as thewall-thickness of the jacket. Adjustment as to height of the cuttingdiscs is provided. by loosenable clamping bolts 97-43? and adjustmentscrews 9999 carried by the plate 22.

As the cordage I9 is pressed toward the cutting discs 94-94 by the yoke34, cams Iee :cc (Fig. 2) engaged by spring-pressed follower sleevesI32lt2 of collets I34 I34, which are mounted slidably on a bushing H33,are rotated by a gear Iilfi to positions permitting the follower sleevesto close split chuck jaws It8Iil8 on the portions of the cordageadjacent thereto. The jaws IIlS-Ill3 then grip the cordage tightly, andthe gear IE6, which is driven by a shaft I I ll driving the cam 3c,rotates the collets through a gear H2 formed on the bushing I33. Thecollets then rotate the portions of the cordage engaged by the cuttingdiscs S t-94 through somewhat over 366 so that the jacket of the cordageis out completely around at the points engaged by the cutting discs. Thecams Sim-I33 then actuate the collets IB4-IE!4 to release the cordage asthe cam 83 moves the yoke 8 away from the cutting discs and guide loopsII'4II4 secured to the arms 32-92 move the Cordage away from the cuttingdiscs.

The cam 38 (Fig. 1) then causes movement of the lever 25 from itsbroken-line position to its full-line position, and keeps it in thisposition until just prior to the next ring-cutting operation, occurringalmost one revolution of the cam 63 away. As the lever is moved to itsfull-line position, the cordage is given up by the sheaves 28, 2| and 24and is taken up by the sheaves 32., 33 and 34 in equal lengths so thatthe rate of speed of the portions of the cordage to the left of thesheave 20, as viewed in Fig. l, and to the right of the sheave 32 isunafifected.

The slitter 33 (Figs. 1 and includes a pair of knife arms I23 and I22mounted pivotally on posts I24 and I26, respectively, mounted on abracket I22 secured to the plate 22. The arms I23 and I22 are providedwith intermeshing segmental gears I33 and I32, respectively, and carryremovable slitting blades I34 and I36, respectively, in positions offsettherefrom, and the arm Iii! carries a cam follower I38, which is biasedby a spring E43 against a cam I42 fastened to the stripping disc 38. Thespring I40 secured to the arms E21] and I22 urges the arms toward oneanother and the knives I34 and I33 toward the cordage I 3 guidedtherehetween by guide arms and I46 having grooves I48 and I53,respectively. and mounted pivotally on the posts I24 and I28. The guidearms are urged against the cordage by compression springs I52-I52mounted on adjustment screws I54-I54 screwed through lugs I55 I55projecting from the knife arms I20 and I 22.

While a portion of the cordage I0 not to be slit passes between theknives I34 and I36, a lobe I58 of the cam I42 engages the cam followerI33. thereby holding the knife arms in positions holding the knives I34and I33 separated and away from the cordage. While the knives are heldseparate, the springs I52-I.'i2 urge the guide arms I44 against thecordage to center the cordage between the knives and keep the cordageoutof contact with the knives.

As a ring out I82 is formed in the cordage II), which is the advance oneof a pair of ring cuts formed simultaneously, arrives at a positionabreast the knives It =3 and I36, the cam lobe I58 is moved out ofengagement with the cam. follower I33, and a dwell portion I62. of thecam I42 is moved abreast the follower I 38. The spring MI] then closesthe knife arms I28 and I22 to the extent permitted by the adjustmentscrews I54I5 l engaging the guide arms I44 and I43, which extent is justsufficient to cause the knives I34 and E35 to out almost completelythrough the jacket I2 at opposite sides thereof. The jacket then is slitfrom the ring out I30 to a ring out I34, which is the trailing ring outtherebehind of the simultaneously formed pair. As the ring cut I64arrives at the knives, the beginning portion of the lobe I 58 of the camI42 is revolved by the disc 38 into engagement with the cam follower I38to move the knives away from the Cordage. Thus, the slitter 35 formsopposed slits in the jacket I2 of the continuously moving cordage It)from the ring out IEO to the ring out I64 in synchronism with themovement of the disc 38, the operation of the ring cutter 3H and theadvancement of the cordage by the capstan I5.

Just after the ring out It!) is advanced to the point of tangency orbite of the stripping discs 38 and 40, grippers I10 and H2 (Figs. 1, 3and 7) are moved into engagement with the cordage at points spaced justbehind the ring out I60. As the grippers are so moved, pinions I-'I4I"I4 keyed to shafts I'I6I I6 mounted in fixed bearings III-I'II engagepins Ila-4T8 fastened to the plate 22, and are turned 90. This turningof the pinions revolves pins I-I8fi extending transversely to the shaftsI 76!l3 from positions holding jaws I82-I82 away from jaws I84I84against the actions of compression springs -I8$ to positions extendingalong grooves I83-I88 formed in the jaws I82-I82 and I84-I84, and thesprings I85I3I5 close the jaws on the portions of the jacket on oppositesides of the cordage and separated by the slits formed by the slitter3B. The jaws I82-I32 and Hi l-I84 are mounted in sockets IIJ'II8I formedin the discs 38 and 4 The pairs of jaws I82-I82 and Hi l-I34 grip theportions of the jacket firmly, and as the discs 33 and 46 are turned,pull the gripped portions of the jacket apart along the slits and fromthe cordagelstarting withthe ring cut I60 and separating along the slitsin the jacket.

As the stripping disc 38 and 40 rotate, pointed pins I90 I90 carried bythese discs behind the grippers I and I12 impale the jacket I2 and aidthe grippers in pulling the portions of the jacket separated by theslits apart and from the cordage. As the ring cut I64 approaches thebite of the stripping discs 38 and 40, cams I92- I92 carried by thestripping discs engage arms I94-I 94 of bellcrank levers I96--I 96mounted on posts I98-I98 secured to the plate 22 to move rollers 200-200carried by arms 202-202 Of the bellcrank levers into guide grooves204204 formed in the stripping discs. As the rollers are so moved, theyengage thestripped portions of the jacket and roll these portions intothe guide grooves, thereby placing the stripped portions of the jacketunder tension back to the bite of the stripping discs. Rollers 206206facilitate movement of the stripped portions of the jacket as theseportions are stretched so that the tensile stress is transmitted alongthese portions to the bite of the stripping discs. As the ring out I64comes to the bite of the discs, the tension on the portions of thejacket being stripped break any portions of the jacket not outcompletely through at the ring out I64 so that the stripped portions ofthe jacket are separated completely from the cordage. Just after thestripped portions of the jacket are separated completely from thecordage, the cams I92-I92 move out of engagement with the arms I9,4-I 94of the bellcrank levers IBIS-I36 to permit free movement of thebellcranks as the rollers 200-200 roll through the grooves 204204 andare biased against the peripheries of the stripping discs by tensionsprings 2I0--2I0.

As the grippers I10 and I12 are rotated further, the pinions IT4II4(Fig. 3) engage pins 2I2-2I2 (Fig. 1), and are turned 90. This turns thepins I80I80 (Fig. 3) to positions transverse to the grooves I88I88 toopen the jaws I82-I82 and I84-I84 thereby releasing the strippedportions of the jacket. The forward ends of the stripped portions of thejacketthen are moved into engagement with stripping fingers 2I6--2|6extending to the peripheries of the stripping discs 38 and 40. The,fingers 2I6-2I6 lift the stripped portions out of the grippers, off thepins I90I90 and out of the grooves 56 and 58 in the stripping discs sothat the stripped portions fall off the stripping discs.

The circumference of the grooves. 56 and 58 are equal and of a lengthequal to that of a portion of the cordage from one ring. out to the ringout once removed therefrom. Hence, the apparatus described hereinabovestrips portions of the jacket of uniform length and spaced uniformlyalong the cordage.

Operation The apparatus described hereinabove advances the cordagecontinuously at a constant rate of speed from the supply reel I6, whichis braked, to the sheave and from the sheave 33, past the slitter 36-andthe stripping discs 38 and 40 and around the capstan I5, to the takeupreel 42 at that rate of speed. The movement of the cordage from thesheave 2| to th sheave 32 is in a cycle for each cord length of thecordage, each cycle including no movement while the ringcutter ring cutsthe cordage, movement above the rate of speed caused by the capstan I5after each pair of ring cuts are made, and movement at the capstan rateof speed between these two variants while the lever 26 is stationary.The sheaves 32, 33 and 34 give up cordage while the portion of thecordage between the sheaves 2I and 32 is stationary and the sheaves 20,2| and 24 take up the cordage simultaneously with the giving up thereof.Conversely, after each pair of ring cuts is made, the sheaves 20, 2| and24 give up length of cordage and the sheaves 32, 33 and 34 take uplength of the cordage at an equal rate of speed.

While the portion of the cordage I0 between the sheaves 2I and 32 isstationary, the cam (Figs. 2 and 4) actuates the yoke 84 to move thecordage into engagement with the cutting discs 9494, and the cams I00-I00 and the gear I06 actuate the collets l04-I04 to grip the cordageand turn it so that it is ring out by the cutting discs. This occursevery cord length at points spaced uniformly from the preceding andsucceeding respective ring cuts.

The cordage I0 having been ring out is advanced from the sheave 32through the slitter 36 with such timing that the cam I42 (Fig. 5)actuates the knife arms I20 and I22 to move together and start theslitting just after the leading ring out of a pair of simultaneouslyformed ring cuts clears the knives I34 and I36. The guide arms I44 andI46 and the adjustment screws I54--I54 limit depth of cut of the knives,and keep the cordage centered between the knives. The knives slit thejacket between the two ring cuts, and the cam I42 moves the knives apartas the second ring out arrives at the knives.

The grippers I10 and "2 (Figs. 1 and 3) are actuated by the pinsI'I8-I'|8 to firmly grip slit portions of the jacket I2 just behind eachleading ring out, and the grippers and stripping discs 38 and 40 pullthe slit portions of the jacket from the cordage. The pins I-I90 impalethe jacket portions to be stripped, and the cams I92I92 actuate thebellcrank levers I96-I36 and rollers 200-200 to tension the strippedportions to separate them completely from the cordage at the trailingring cut. The pins 2 I4-2 I4 then actuate the grippers to release thestripped portions of the jacket, and the stripper arms 2 "5-2 I6 peelthe stripped portions from the peripheries of the stripping discs 38 and40. The stripped portions then fall into waste receptacles (not shown).

The above-described apparatus serves to continuously advance the cordagat a high rate of speed without interruption in the paying out andtaking up of the cordage while it periodically ring cuts, slits andstrips the cordage accurately and uniformly. The walking beam storagedevice 23 provides periodically stationary portions of the cordagewithout interruptions in the advancement of the cordage. Thearticle-advancing device per se is disclosed and claimed in copendingapplication Serial No. 77,547, filed February 21,1949, by P. R. Powellfor Apparatus for Advancing Filamentary Articles.

In the use of the terms filamentary article, filament, or the like, itis intended to include cordage, twine, wire, covered conductors, tapesand the like.

' What is claimed is:

1. A ring cutter, which comprises a pair of rotatable cutting discsmounted for rotation on the same axis and spaced a predetermineddistance apart, means for rotating the cutting discs,

guides for guiding cordage past the discs, means for holding the guidesin alternate positions in which the guides hold the cordage out ofengagement with the discs and hold the cordage in engagement with thediscs, a hollow chuck positioned near the discs and through which thecordage passes, means for rotating the chuck, and means for actuatingthe chuck to grip the cordage and turn the cordage on its longitudinalaxis while the cordage is in engagement with the discs, whereby thecutting discs ring out the cordage.

2. A ring cutter, which comprises a rotatable cutting disc, means forrotatin the cutting disc, guide means for guiding cordage past the disc,means for holding the guide means alternately in a position in which theguide means holds the cordage out of engagement with the disc and in aposition in which the guide means holds the cordage in engagement withthe disc, a hollow chuck positioned near the disc and through which thecordage passes, means for rotataing the chuck, and means for actuatingthe chuck to grip the cordage and turn the cordage on its longitudinalaxis while the guide means hold the cordage against the disc, wherebythe cutting disc ring cuts the cordage.

3. A ring cutter, which comprises a pair of rotatable cutting discsmounted for rotation on the same axis and spaced a predetermineddistance apart, means for rotating the cutting discs, guides for guidingcordage past the discs, a pivoted frame carrying the guides, a cam forholding said frame alternately in a position in which the guides holdthe cordage out of engagement with the discs and in a position in whichthe guides hold the cordage in engagement with the discs, hollow chuckspositioned near the discs and through which the cordage passes, meansfor rotating the chucks, and means for actuating the chucks to cause thechucks to grip the cordage and turn the cordage on its longitudinal axiswhile the guide means hold the cordage in engagement with the cuttingdiscs, whereby the cutting discs ring out the cordage.

4. A ring cutter, which comprises a pair of laterally spaced cuttingdiscs, means for rotating the cutting discs, a pair of guides includingpresser rollers for guiding cordage, a frame supporting the guides inpositions oflset from the cutting discs, cam means normally holding theframe in a position in which the guides hold cordage out of contact withthe cutting discs and periodically operable to actuate the frame to movethe cordage into contact with the cutting discs, adjustable stoppingmeans for limiting movement of the cordage toward the cutting discs, apair of chucks mounted rotatably in aligned positions extending betweenthe guide means, each of said chuck having a springpressed actuatingsleeve, a pinion connected rigidly to the chucks and positionedtherebetween, a gear engaging the pinion for rotating the chucks, andearns carried by the gear for actuating the sleeves of the chucks toperiodically grip cordage advanced through the chucks, whereby thecordage is turned about its own axis so that the cutting discs ring outthe cordage.

5. An apparatus for stripping jackets from cordage having a slit jacket,which comprises a disc, means for advancing the cordage tangentiallywith respect to the disc, means for holding cordage against theperiphery of the disc, means for rotating the disc with the samperipheral speed as the linear speed of the cordage, a pair ofrelatively movable jaws carried by the disc in the plane thereof and atthe periphery thereof, means urging the jaws together, a latch forholding the jaws apart, means operable as the jaws reach the cordage foractuating the latch to permit the jaws to grip a portion of the slitjacket, whereby said portion is pulled from the cordage as the jaws aremoved with the disc, means for actuating the latch to open the jaws andrelease the stripped portion of the cordage, and means for removing thestripped portion of the cordage from the disc.

6. A stripper, which comprises a disc having a groove therein, means forholding cordage having a slit jacket against the groove in the peripheryof the disc, a pair of elongated members having jaw portions carried bythe disc in positions in which the jaws bracket the peripheral groove inthe disc, each of. the members having a longitudinal groove therein, ashaft, a pin carried by the shaft and movable thereby between a positionin which a pin extends transversely to the grooves in the levers to holdthe jaws open and to a position in which the pin extends parallel to thegrooves in the levers. to permit the jaws to be closed, means for urgingthe jaws toward closed positions, means for turning the shaft to movethe pin to the position thereof parallel with the grooves of the leverswhen the jaws bracket a portion of a jacketed conductor held in thegroove in the disc, and means for actuating the jaws to release aportion of the jacket after this portion of the jacket has been strippedfrom the rest of the cordage.

'2. A ring cutter, which comprises a pair of laterally spaced cuttingdiscs, means for rotating the cutting discs, a pair of guides forguiding cordage past the discs, a frame supporting the guides inpositions offset from and near the cutting discs, means for holding theframe alternately in a position in which the guides hold the cordage outof contact with the cutting discs and in a position in which the guideshold the cordage in contact with the cutting discs, cordagegrippingmeans mounted rotatably in a position extending between the guides,means for actuating the cordage-gripping means through the engagement ofthe cordage with the cutting discs, and means for rotating thecordage-gripping means, whereby the cordage is turned about its own axisso that the cutting discs ring out the cordage.

8. A ring cutter, which comprises a pair of laterally spaced cuttingdiscs, means for rotating the cutting discs, a pair of guides includingpresser rollers for guiding cordage past the discs, a frame supportingthe guides in positions transverse in alignment with. the cuttingvdiscs, cam means normally holding. the frame in a position in which theguides hold cordage out of contact with the cutting discs and.periodically operable to actuate the frame to move the cordage intocontact with the cutting discs, stopping means for limiting movement ofthe frame toward the cutting discs, a pair of chucks mounted rotatablyin aligned positions extending between the guide means, each of saidchucks having actuating means for causing the chucks to grip thecordage, a pinion connected rigidly to the chucks positionedtherebetween, a gear engaging the pinion for rotating the chucks, andmeans. carried by the gear for operating the actuating means of thechucks to periodically grip cordage advanced through the chucks, wherebythe cordage is turned about its own axis so that the cutting discs ringout the cordage.

9. An apparatus for stripping cordage having a slit jacket, whichcomprises a disc, means for advancing the cordage tangentially withrespect to the disc, means for holding the cordage against the peripheryof the disc, means for rotating the disc at the same peripheral speed asthe linear speed of the cordage, means carried by the disc for engagingthe'jacket to strip'the jacket from the cordage, whereby the slit jacketis pulled from the cordage as the jacket-engaging means is moved withthe disc, said disc being provided with a generally chordal groovetherein positioned behind the jacket-engaging means as this means isrotated with the disc, a bellcrank lever having a roller on one armthereof urged against the periphery of the disc, a cam carried by thedisc and engaging the other arm of the bellcrank lever to move theroller against a stripped portion of the jacket and into the groove inthe disc so that the stripped portion of the jacket is tensioned, andmeans operable after the roller has been moved into the groove forreleasing the jacket from the jacket-engaging means.

An apparatus for stripping jackets from cordage having slit jackets,which comprises a disc, means for advancing the cordage tangentiallywith respect to the disc, means for holding the cordage against theperiphery of the disc, means for rotating the disc with the sameperipheral speed as the linear speed of the cordage, means carried bythe disc for engaging the slit jacket to pull it from the cordage as thejacket-engaging means is moved with the disc,'said disc being providedwith a cut-away portion positioned behind the jacket-engaging means asit is rotated with the disc, a presser, and means for moving the presseragainst a stripped portion of the jacket and into the cut-away portionin the disc so that the stripped portion of the jacket is tensioned.

11. A stripper, which comprises a disc having a groove therein, meansfor holding cordage having a slit jacket against the groove in theperiphery of the disc, a pair of members having jaw portions carried bythe disc in positions in which the jaws bracket the peripheral groove inthe disc, at least one of the members having a longitudinal groovetherein, a rotatable shaft, a pin secured rigidly to the shaft in such aposition that when the shaft rotates the pin is moved between a positionin which the pin extends transversely to the groove in the member tohold the jaws open and a position in which the pin extends parallel tothe groove in the member to permit the jaws to be closed, means forurging the jaws toward closed positions and means for turning the shaftto move the pin to the position thereof parallel with the groove in themember when the jaws bracket a portion of a jacketed conductor held inthe groove in the disc, and means for turning the shaft to the positionthereof in which the pin holds the jaws open to release a portion of thejacket after this portion of the jacket has been stripped from the restof the cordage.

12. An apparatus for stripping cordage having slit jackets, whichcomprises a pair of discs having peripheral grooves therein and mountedfor rotation in a single plane and in tangential relationship, means foradvancing the cordage having a slit jacket thereon between the edges ofthe discs at a predetermined rate of speed, means for rotating the discsat peripheral speeds equal to the speed of the advancing cordage and insuch directions that the portions thereof adjacent to the cordageadvance in the direction of movement of' said cordage, jacket-grippingjaws 'mounted on, the discs, and means for closing the jaws gripportionsof the jacket separated by the slits formed therein and these portionsof the jacket are pulled away from the cordage and carried along theperipheries of the discs.

13. Apparatus for removing equally spaced portions of'the covering fromcontinuous lengths of jacketed cordage,- which comprises means forcontinuously advancing a length of such cordage from a supply thereofalong a predetermined path, a plurality of cutting blades mounted atspaced positions along and transverse to said path, means operable intimed relationship with respect to the cordage-advancing means fortemporarily stopping at periodic intervals the longitudinal movement ofthe portion of the cordage adjacent to the cutting blades, means forsimultaneously pressing the stopped portion of the cordage against thespaced blades, means for turning the stopped portion of the cordageabout its longitudinal axis while the cordage engages the blades so thatthe covering is ring out at spaced points, movable means positionedadjacent to a subsequent point in said path where the cordage iscontinuously advancing for slitting the covering of the cordagelongitudinally on opposite sides thereof, means for periodically movingthe slitting means into engagement with a portion of the cordage betweenthe ring cuts made by the blades to slit the covering therebetween, andmeans subsequently engaged by the advancing cordage for removing theslitted portions of the covering from the cordage.

14. Apparatus for removing equally spaced portions of the covering fromcontinuous lengths of jacketed cordage, which comprises means'forcontinuously advancing a length of such cordage from a supply thereofalong a predetermined path, a plurality of cutting blades mounted atspaced positions along and transverse to said path, means operable intimed relationship with respect to, the cordage-advancing means fortemporarily stopping at periodic intervals the longitudinal movement ofthe portion of the cordage adjacent to the cutting blades, means forsimultaneously pressing the stopped portion of the cordage against thespaced blades, means for turning the stopped portion of the cordageabout its longitudinal axis while the cordage engages the blades so thatthe covering is ring out at spaced points, movable means positionedadjacent to a susbequent point in said path where the cordage iscontinuously advancing for slitting the covering of the cordagelongitudinally on opposite sides thereof, means for periodically movingthe slitting means into engagement with a portion of the cordage to slitthe covering, stripping means subsequently engaged by the advancingcordage for removing the slitted portions of the covering from thecordage, and means for operating the slitting means and the strippingmeans in synchronism with the cord advancing means, whereby the slittingmeans slits the portion of the covering between the ring cuts previouslymade by the blades and the stripping means subsequently engages andstrips said ring cut and slitted portion from the continuously advancingcordage.

15. Apparatus for removing equally spaced portions of the covering fromcontinuous lengths of jacketed cordage, which comprises means forcontinuously advancing a length of such cordage from a supply thereofalong a predetermined path, a plurality of rotary cutting blades mountedat spaced positions along and transverse to said path, means forrotating said cutting blades, means operable for temporarily stopping atperiodic intervals the longitudinal movement of the portion of thecordage adjacent to the cutting blades, means for simultaneouslypressing the stopped portion of the cordage against the spaced, rotatingblades, means for turning the stopped portion of the cordage about itslongitudinal axis while the cordage engages the blades so that thecovering is ring cut at spaced points, movable means positioned adjacentto a subsequent point in said path where the cordage is continuouslyadvancing for slitting the covering of the cordage longitudinally onopposite sides thereof, means operable for periodically moving theslitting means into engagement with the cordage to slit the covering,stripping means operable for engaging portions of the covering onopposite sides of the longitudinal slits made by the slitting means, anddriving means operatively connected to the stripping means for operatingthe cordage stopping means and the slitting means in timed relationshipwith each other and the stripping means, whereby the covering on theadvancing cordage is slit between the previously made ring cuts and thering out and slitted portions thereof are subsequently engaged by thestripping means and removed from the cordage.

16. Apparatus for removing equally spaced portions of the covering fromcontinuous lengths of jacketed cordage, which comprises means forcontinuously advancing a length of such cordage from a supply thereofalong a predetermined path, a plurality of cutting blades mounted atspaced positions along and transverse to said path, means operable fortemporarily stopping at periodic intervals the longitudinal movement ofthe portion of the cordage adjacent to the blades, pressing means forurging the stopped portion of the cordage against the spaced blades,rotary chucking means for engaging and turning the stopped portion ofthe cordage about its longitudinal axis while the cordage engages theblades so that the covering is ring out at spaced points, movable meanspositioned adjacent to a subsequent point in said path where the cordageis continuously advancing for slitting the covering of the cordagelongitudinally on opposite sides thereof, means operable for moving theslitting means into engagement with a portion of the cordage to slit thecovering, a pair of rotatable stripping discs positioned on oppositesides of the path at a point beyond the slitting means, grippingelements provided on the discs for firmly gripping the slitted portionsof the covering of the advancing cordage on opposite sides of thelongitudinal slits previously made by the slitting means, cam meansoperated by the discs for operating the temporary stopping means and theslitting means in timed relationship with respect to said strippingdiscs, means for operating the cordage pressing means simultaneouslywith the temporary stoppage of a portion of the cordage by the temporarystopping means, and a common driving means for synchronizing theoperation of the chucking means and the stripping discs, whereby thecovering on the advancing cordage is slit between previously made spacedring outs and the ring out and slitted portions thereof are subsequentlyengaged by the gripping elements on the stripping discs and removed fromthe cordage.

JULIUS H. PENN. PAUL R. POWELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATiH N'ISNumber Name Date 1,411,122 Morrison Mar. 28, 1922 1,549,429 BartlettAug. 11, 1925 1,802,453 Wright Apr. 28, 1931 1,934,660 Fairchild Nov. 7,1933 1,954,817 Jenkins Apr. 17, 1934 1,987,959 Knunti Jan. 15, 19351,998,391 Shaw Apr. 16, 1935 2,020,113 Ferguson Nov. 5, 1935 2,120,398Edwards June 14, 1938 2,374,211 Kane Apr. 24, 1945 2,429,611 ChurnellOct. 28, 1947

